Team members, community support Biggest Winner competitors
Larry Butka uses the ropes during circuit training to work on strength and cardio during a Wednesday morning session in the third week of the Biggest Winner competition. The Observer-Reporter's team trainer, Kendra Boni, had the team warm up with running the stairs before putting the group through a circuit and ending with some core work.
Paul Setto does step-ups on a platform during circuit training on Wednesday, Jan. 28. The circuit consisted of battle ropes, tricep extensions, core strengthening exercises and plank rows.
Larry Butka does plank rows during a circuit training session for the Biggest Winner competition. The competitors are on their third week of the competition. The Observer-Reporter team was in second place as of Jan. 28.
Jessica Tennant does butt kicks while jumping rope at the end of the training session on Wednesday, Jan. 28. The Biggest Winner competition runs for three more weeks at the Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center.
The Observer-Reporter’s Biggest Winner team does a set of squats in between circuit training. The competition runs another three weeks, and the team that loses the highest percentage of weight will win prizes.
The Observer-Reporter’s Biggest Winner team members are getting more than they expected from the fitness program.
The contestants expected to lose weight and get in shape at Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center. But they didn’t expect to form a bond with their fellow competitors.
“It was surprising how early we formed that bond,” said competitor Jessica Tennant. “It was very nerve-racking, at first, stepping into this. No one knew what to expect.”
Competitor Paul Setto said the support was especially helpful to him as the senior member of the team. He said the gym environment was completely new to him.
“I think encouragement is one of the things that I appreciate, being on the upper end of the age scale,” he said. “At 72 years old, I think I’m doing all right.”
Competitor Larry Butka takes a different approach to building team spirit – by making everyone laugh.
“I tend to lead the group in teasing,” he said.
He said the group was walking around the track on Tuesday, and he and Setto were passing Tennant.
“I said, ‘Hey Jessica, if you’re going to walk that slow, you’ll need a cane,'” he said with a laugh.
The laughter is a distraction from the physical fatigue and soreness, and allows the competitors to push through, he said.
“When you’re out of breath, you catch it real quick and you keep going,” he said.
That work is paying off for Butka, who has lost 10.2 pounds so far.
“So if you look at two 5-pound bags of sugar, that’s a lot of weight,” he said.
Encouragement from the public is a motivator to him. Friends, family and acquaintances have been cheering him on.
“I’m getting a lot of public support, even from people I haven’t seen in a long time,” he said.
People tell him they saw him online and reach out to support him.
“It’s kind of cool for everyone to be giving me support,” he said. “It keeps me going into the next day.”
Tennant said she, too, is getting support from unexpected sources. She receives calls and emails from people in the community, saying they are rooting for the team and cheering them on.
“It’s like the whole community is backing our team,” she said.
The team is in second place out of 10 teams. Competitor Kelly Stanton is leading the team in percentage of weight lost. She lost 4.84 percent of her body weight after week two.